Crassula plant named ‘OVWOODS05’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Crassula  plant named ‘OVWOODS05’ which is characterized by the combination of a large plant size, large succulent foliage borne on long lateral branches, dark green and glaucous foliage, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Crassula arborescens.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Crassula disclosed hereinhas been given the variety denomination ‘OVWOODS05’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVWOODS05’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plantmutation of Crassula ‘OVCRAS03’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grantnumber 46259), a variety developed and owned by the inventor. Theinventor of ‘OVWOODS05’ is a commercial ornamental plant producer andregularly discovers mutations of Crassula at his greenhouse operation inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. For said mutations which seem to exhibitcommercial potential, cuttings are taken to produce trial plants whichare subsequently grown for evaluation. The variety now called‘OVWOODS05’ was initially discovered in December of 2017 as awhole-plant mutation of ‘OVCRAS03’ which exhibited a large size and darkgreen, glaucous foliage borne on long lateral branches. At the time ofdiscovery, cuttings were taken and the resulting plants were evaluatedat the inventor's greenhouse. After further evaluation it was determinedthat the candidate's foliage characteristics would prove favorable forcommercial marketability. The new variety was given the breederdenomination ‘OVWOODS05’.

Asexual Reproduction: The variety now called ‘OVWOODS05’ was firstasexually propagated by stem cuttings in December of 2017 at agreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has since been vegetativelypropagated through four additional generations. Through subsequentgenerations, the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVWOODS05’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘OVWOODS05’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘OVWOODS05’ as a new and distinct Crassula cultivar:

-   -   1. Crassula ‘OVWOODS05’ exhibits a large plant size with a broad        spreading to upright growth habit and an irregular broad obovate        to near flattened globular profile; and    -   2. Crassula ‘OVWOODS05’ exhibits relatively large succulent        foliage borne on long lateral branches; and    -   3. Crassula ‘OVWOODS05’ exhibits dark green, heavily glaucous        foliage which is covered with greyed-green epicuticular wax.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘OVWOODS05’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, TheNetherlands. This plant is approximately 4 years old, shown planted in a15 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘OVWOODS05’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2022describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 6-month-old‘OVWOODS05’ plants grown in 13 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plants were grown in fullsun to semi-shade. Plants were maintained with a standard fertilityprogram for plants of this type and regularly watered with overheadirrigation as well as through use of ebb-and-flow hydroponic greenhousebenches. No chemical pest measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVWOODS05’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVWOODS05’ and comparisons with the parentand closest known commercial comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Broad spreading to upright perennial.        -   Plant form.—Irregular broad obovate to near flattened            globular.        -   Average height.—26.2 cm from the soil level to the top of            the foliar plane.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 35.6 cm.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 days to initiate            roots at temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 6 weeks to            produce a rooted cutting.        -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to            typical Crassula pests and diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            and 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low            tolerance to rain; moderate to high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Moderately dense and freely branched rooting; roots            are moderately fibrous.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately            deep.        -   Diameter of roots.—0.8 mm on average.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 164A.-   Stem:    -   -   General branching habit.—A main stem, freely branching with            lateral branches. Pinching isn't required but will improve            branching.        -   Main stems.—Quantity of main stems per plant — 1. Attitude —            Upright. Cross-section — Rounded. Texture — Glabrous;            glaucous. Luster — Matte. Strength — Strong. Color, juvenile            — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Color, mature — Green,            nearest to in between RHS 137B and 137C. Color of the oldest            wood — Nearest to a combination of greyed-green and            grey-brown; RHS 194A, 194B, 199A, and 199B.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity of lateral branches — 6. Length            of lateral branches — Approximately 14.4 cm. Diameter of            lateral branches — Approximately 1.0 cm. Internode length —            Approximately 2.0 cm. Attitude — At an average angle of 60            degrees to the main stem. Cross-section — Rounded. Texture —            Glabrous; glaucous. Luster — Matte. Strength — Strong.            Color, juvenile — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Color,            mature — Green, nearest to in between RHS 137B and 137C.            Color at internodes — Green, nearest to in between RHS 137B            and 137C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Phyllotaxy.—Decussate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—16 per lateral branch.        -   Attitude.—Upward.        -   Lamina.—Shape — Obovate. Aspect — Longitudinally convex;            slightly to moderately curled upward, distally. Dimensions —            6.9 cm long and 4.2 cm wide. Thickness — Approximately            0.6 cm. Apex — Broad, bluntly acute to obtuse; occasionally            shallow retuse. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire; coarsely,            not undulated to lightly undulated. Pubescence, texture and            luster of the adaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth, and matte;            heavily glaucous. Pubescence, texture and luster of the            abaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth, and matte; heavily            glaucous. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface —            Nearest to a mixture of green and yellow-green, RHS 138A and            146B; narrowly margined greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183A.            The epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is            greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 188A and 189B.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of            green and yellow-green, RHS 138A and 146B yet nearest to RHS            146B; narrowly margined greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183A.            The epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 189B. Mature foliage, adaxial            surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137A yet slightly darker;            narrowly margined greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 184A. The            epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 189A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface —            Green, nearest to RHS NN137B; narrowly margined            greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 184A. The epicuticular wax            covering the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to a            mixture of RHS 189A and N189B. Venation — No veins are            visible.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.-   Comparison with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar    ‘OVWOODS05’ differs from the parent, an unnamed Crassula ‘OVCRAS03’    (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 46259), in the    following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVWOODS05’ ‘OVCRAS03’ Plant size. Larger than‘OVCRAS03’. Smaller than ‘OVWOODS05’. Length and Larger than ‘OVCRAS03’.Smaller than diameter of ‘OVWOODS05’. lateral branches. Foliage size.Larger than ‘OVCRAS03’. Smaller than ‘OVWOODS05’. General Darker greenby Lighter green by coloration of comparison comparison the foliage. to‘OVCRAS03’ with a to ‘OVWOODS05’ with heavier covering of greyed- alighter covering of green epicuticular wax. greyed-green epicuticularwax. Foliage luster. Matte. Somewhat glossy.

-   Comparison with the closest known comparator: Plants of the new    cultivar ‘OVWOODS05’ differ from the most similar variety known to    the inventor, Crassula ‘Crasmada’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,426), in    the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVWOODS05’ ‘Crasmada’ Plant size. Larger thanSmaller than ‘Crasmada’. ‘OVWOODS05’. Length of lateral Longer thanShorter than ‘Crasmada’. ‘OVWOODS05’. branches. Foliage size. Largerthan Smaller than ‘Crasmada’. ‘OVWOODS05’. Foliage apex. Broad, bluntlyacute to Broad acute. obtuse; occasionally shallow retuse.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Crassulaplant named ‘OVWOODS05’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.